The more I work with designers to help them build their design business, the more I realize there is a common trick that clients use to rip off freelance designers. Some of them do it on purpose to get more work for less money, but many clients just don’t know that they’re doing it. And a lot of designers are getting ripped off because of it. The real culprit behind ripping off designers So what’s the most common way I

Have you ever beat your head against a wall after getting off the phone with one of those clients who just really gets on your nerves? You know the kind of client I’m talking about. And we’ve all had them before. In fact, if you’ve ever (like me) found yourself thinking “Where are all the great design clients?” then don’t worry, you’re not alone. Finding clients is tough… But finding great clients is even harder. It’s much easier to settle

This post is part 9 of a series. Read the rest of the series here: Common mistakes designers make with clients – Part 1: Not signing a contract Common mistakes designers make with clients – Part 2: Allowing a discount Common mistakes designers make with clients – Part 3: Burning bridges Common mistakes designers make with clients – Part 4: Working for family Common mistakes designers make with clients – Part 5: Missing deadlines Common mistakes designers make with clients

I share money-making tips here at GDB all the time. They include upselling your design projects, generating passive income, specializing in a particular discipline or skill, and many many more. But there’s one key to making money that I fear I haven’t been very clear about. It’s not that I’m trying to hide anything from you – I want you to be successful too! But it’s something that I have just kindof been doing all along and never really thought

A designer’s life nowadays is very hectic. We have to keep up with our clients, our finances, our personal life, our professional life, and generally anything on the internet. Our minds are constantly racing while we try to multi-task everything at once. However, keeping track of all of that will get in the way of the most important part of being a designer, designing. If you’re checking Facebook and your emails all the time, where can you fit in design?

Research When starting a project, the most important key to success is research. With website design, you need know how your users will react based on their wants and needs. Before you start, ask your client questions about their business, their customers, and their competitors. This will give you a better idea of how to create a website the client and the customers will like, while also beating out the competition. You should also research a specific demographic that will

Any good entrepreneur knows that it’s easier, cheaper, and more effective to sell to existing customers than it is to find and sell to new customers. A design business is no different. Many freelance designers waste a lot of time and opportunities in trying to find new clients instead of working on ways to convince their current and past clients to hire them again. Today, I’d like to recommend a few techniques on convincing your design clients to hire you

In the career of every freelance designer comes a plateau; a moment when you simply can’t make any more money because you don’t have any more time to give to your business. This has always been the inherent problem with freelance designing: no matter how hard you work, there are only 24 hours in a day. Once you max out your hours, you can’t make more money without raising your rates. If you haven’t hit this plateau yet, you will.

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